Brimhall Named Bartlett Entrepreneur of Year

By Kate Simone

Brimhall and his wife, Becki, began producing pork rinds in 1982 in a former ham house on U.S. 70. The company, which now occupies 78,000 square feet in Bartlett Corporate Park and has more than 140 employees across the Southeast, produces pork rinds, pork cracklings, popcorn and corn snacks, and also distributes a variety of snacks under the Brim’s brand.

Education and/or work experience: Graduated from Bartlett High School, 1975; University of Memphis, 1980; school of hard knocks, still enrolled.

Who has had the greatest influence on you? My wife, Becki; my parents, Paul and Joyce Brimhall; my junior high teacher, basketball coach and friend, Ted Wells; Adrian Rogers, my pastor for nearly 20 years; and Jim Russell, a mentor and friend for most of my life.

What led you to form Brimhall Foods? Trying to make a living: started selling snacks while a student at U of M.

What are your goals in the coming year? Have fun with wife, family and friends. Streamline some processes at work. Tell more people about Jesus.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment? Growing as a Christian: learning to love others as Christ loves me.

What do you most enjoy about your work? People I work with: coworkers and customers; and accomplishing bringing new items to market.

If you could give one piece of advice to young people, what would it be? Live for Jesus! Through maturity as a believer, you learn how to love, make wise choices, have fulfillment and avoid doing stupid stuff. It is a process of surrendering self to the Savior.

THOMPSON

J. Carey Thompson, vice president for enrollment and communications and dean of admission at Rhodes College, has received the 2013 Larry West Award from the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling. The award is given based on longevity of service and dedication to the organization, the admissions profession and students. Thompson joined Rhodes in 2010.

Memphis Jewish Home & Rehab has re-elected Geri Lansky president for a second one-year term. Officers re-elected for a second term are Minton Mayer, vice president/president elect; Gregg Landau, vice president; and Barbara Ostrow, secretary. Scott Notowich has been elected for a first term as treasurer.

Keith Parker has joined Roxul Inc. as human resources manager at Roxul’s manufacturing facility under construction in Marshall County, Miss. Parker previously served as human resources manager for Helen of Troy and ACCO Brands, and as human resources/operations manager for The Home Depot distribution center in Baton Rouge, La.

CHANDLER

John Chandlerhas joined Paragon National Bank as vice president of commercial lending. Chandler previously held positions as regional business development officer and vice president of commercial lending at two regional financial institutions.

Hamlett Dobbins, director of the Clough-Hanson Gallery at Rhodes College, has received a 2013-2014 Rome Prize. Dobbins, who became director of the gallery in 2001, will spend 11 months as a fellow at the American Academy in Rome.

STARLING

Megan Andrews Starling, associate director of admission at Rhodes College, has received the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling’s Rising Star award. The award recognizes individuals with fewer than five years of experience in the admissions field who show excellence and dedication to serving the needs of students. Starling joined Rhodes in 2009.

River Oaks executive chef Jose Gutierrez has been selected for the James Beard Foundation’s Chefs Boot Camp for Policy & Change. Fifteen chefs were chosen for the program, which is designed to provide chefs with tools and support to advocate for food-system change.

Eli Cloud has joined Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects as marketing coordinator. She previously worked with RiverArtsFest.